Canton rabbi releases latest CD on prayers

David Paskin said he knew he wanted to be a rabbi when he was 13. Almost three decades later, the Canton synagogue rabbi continues to find that spirit through music.

Mike Melanson

David Paskin said he knew he wanted to be a rabbi when he was 13.

Paskin, now 41, recalls feeling so in love with his Jewish faith and wanted to share his joy with everyone, to shout it from the rooftops.

As Paskin matured, his feeling of wanting to share his faith turned into a feeling of responsibility.

Paskin said he paid attention to the older rabbis as a younger man, and thought he could try to do a better job. He would focus on inspiration, not fear.

"I'm a rabbi. My job as a rabbi is the care of souls and spiritual journeys," Paskin said. "If I can change one person's life, inspire one person, that would be amazing."

Paskin is also a singer, songwriter and musician.

Music is a unique and free way of self-expression for him, but is also a fantastic study and memory aid for helping others learn and deepen their faith.

Paskin said music is part of his work as spiritual leader of Temple Beth Abraham in Canton and co-head of the Kehillah Schechter Academy in Norwood.

"Too often we get lost in the theology of prayer and words of prayer. Music allows us to transcend that, if just for a moment," Paskin said, adding that the music helps with the presentation of prayer and does not negate its truth.

"If these tunes can help people connect with prayer, participate in prayer, remember prayers and deepen spiritual life, then, wow, that would be amazing," he said.

There are many tunes that have been born and grown in Temple Beth Abraham, and for the first time, they have been recorded, Paskin said.

"It's radically different from any other stuff I have done. It's almost all prayers," he said.

The new album was made possible through the generosity of long-time congregant Susan Cohen Slavet, who wanted to do something to give back to the community.

CDs are for sale for $15 at www.rockandrollrabbi.com

and Paskin said he will donate all proceeds back to the synagogue."Music works for me. It moves my soul. It stirs my spirit," he said.

Paskin attended high school in St. Louis and studied Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University, with a minor in Conflict Resolution.

Paskin and his wife, Heather, live in Sharon with their daughters Dalia, 14; Ayelet, 9; and Naomi, 4.

They lost daughter Liat at age 2 when she died from a brain tumor 10 years ago.

Paskin said he still has not been able to deal with it, that he has a fantastic defense mechanism, but that he is very present in the loss to this day.

"I still don't know what it's like," he said.

After Liat's death, Paskin and his friends produced an album in her memory, "HaMakom," a journey through grief in song for all those who lost a loved one.

He said he loves working now and being busy with things that matter and relationships with people.

Paskin has been spiritual director at Temple Beth Abraham, which embraces the Conservative community in Canton and surrounding towns, for 15 years. And now he is co-head of the Kehillah Schechter Academy, a day school in Norwood that seeks to inspire students to excel as Jewish citizens of the world.